Altes’ Ex-Wife Denies Contacting Legislative Opponent

Altes’ Ex-Wife Denies Contacting Legislative Opponent

An ex-wife of Republican legislative candidate Bobby Altes who accused him of domestic violence when they were married says she never contacted his political opponent.

Altes, 40, of Fort Smith is seeking the Republican nomination for the District 76 Arkansas House of Representatives seat currently held by his father, Denny Altes, R-Fort Smith, who is term-limited. Opposing him in the GOP primary May 20 is Mat Pitsch, executive director of the Regional Intermodal Transportation Authority.

Altes denied the domestic violence allegations and other allegations made public this week and accused Pitsch of being behind the revelations as part of a smear campaign.

On Thursday, Pitsch told the Times Record he was aware of rumors and was contacted by Altes’ ex-wives and other people, but he never intended to and never did anything with the information they provided.

Allison Moore, who told the Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office in 2004 and the Greenwood Police Department in 2006 that Altes struck her while they were still married, said Friday she never called Pitsch.

On Friday, Pitsch said he couldn’t say if Moore contacted him because he didn’t write down names of those who contacted him he didn’t intend to do anything with the information. Pitsch said more than one woman who contacted him identified herself as Altes’ ex-wife.

Moore didn’t pursue the 2004 complaint, but Altes was charged with misdemeanor third-degree domestic battery based on the 2006 complaint.

Altes pleaded not guilty in Greenwood District Court on July 31, 2006, and the charge was dismissed May 23, 2007.

Sebastian County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Shue said the Greenwood City Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case, but records Shue viewed show that after Bobby Altes pleaded not guilty, the case was taken under advisement for six months. When a case is taken under advisement, final judgment isn’t entered by the court and if a defendant stays out of trouble while the case is under advisement, the case can be dismissed, Shue said.

On Friday, Moore declined to answer questions about the abuse allegations and Altes’ denial, saying it is a private matter.